RELENTLESS FIGHTING

Waikato Times, Volume 195, Issue 22461, 23 September 1944, Page 5

RELENTLESS FIGHTING

PARATROOPS HARD PRESSED LONDON, Sept. 22 Relentless fighting is raging at Arnhem, where an Allied paratroop force has been encircled since Monday. A message from Arnhem was received in London this morning. It had been sent by a correspondent last night, and said:— “Second Army guns have just started shelling enemy targets that we have signalled. On this fifth day our force is still being heavily mortared, sniped, machine-gunned and shelled. The men are being asked to do more than flesh and blood should have to endure, but they are holding on and fighting magnificently. “Meantime they just go on fighting the hearts out of the Germans, who brought up loud-speakers and megaphones calling on us to surrender, but a bunch of British glicler pilots are yelling their heads off with abusive replies. “More Second Army guns are coming into action. They have just knocked out by a direct hit a German Mark IV. tank which was advancing to attack us. “More supplies came in this evening by Dakotas, flying through a cracking flak barrage to land them just where they were needed.” The Canadians east of Bruges are trying to advance but are making little headway against heavy opposition in the almost impossible terrain. There are only three gaps in the inundated farmlands and they are commanded by German guns.